Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
How can I forgive my family member for stealing from me?
Answer:
Forgiveness can be a challenging process, especially when it involves a family member. As someone who's experienced the importance of forgiveness, I'd like to share some insights. To begin with, it's essential to acknowledge that we all struggle with the concept of forgiveness. It's natural to feel superior to someone who's wronged us, but this superiority complex can actually hinder our ability to forgive. As the Bible says, "Truth will eat up love" when we stay superior and disdainful of the person. To forgive, we must first recognize that we're not superior to the person who wronged us. We're all human beings, prone to mistakes and weaknesses. This realization helps us understand that forgiveness isn't about condoning the person's behavior, but about releasing the debt and acknowledging God's forgiveness in our lives. As the Bible says, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matthew 6:14-15). It's not about the other person's worthiness, but about our own relationship with God. When dealing with a family member who's wronged us, it's crucial to confess our own sin to the Lord before confronting them. We must remember that all sin is ultimately against God, and it's God's job to judge (1 Peter 2:23). By releasing the debt and believing that the person who sinned against us owes us nothing, we can begin the process of forgiveness. This can be done privately, with the Lord, before confronting the person. As I've learned, forgiveness is a journey, and it takes humility, love, and a willingness to release the debt.
Sources:
meaning of marriage
timothy keller
power of a praying parent
stormie omartian
addictions a banquet in the grave
edward t welch
true sexual morality
daniel heimbach
new testament background and message
thomas lea
systematic theology
wayne grudem
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